Your new first mate on the bike tours.

You may hit the road with a bunch of trail-mates, but your favorite one is bound to be the durable Thule Gate Mate Tailgate Pad. Heavy-duty vinyl and extra padding is what helps keep your truck and everybody's bikes looking good.

Durable, waterproof vinyl throughout protects both your truck's tailgate as well as bike forks and frames

Heavy-duty nylon material straps secure the pad to the truck

Thick end pads called Knock-Blocks cushion and limit movement to the sides of the bed

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Average ride time is based on Strava activity over the last 3 months. Give your reviews credibility by connecting your account.

Perfect fit for Hilux

Familiarity: I've used it several times

The tailgate pad (small size) is very easy to mount and dismount, it fits perfectly with Toyota Hilux 2012, also bike acolyte smoothly once it is in place. Only removing 1 star since I got a small scratch in my paint after using it 1st time, but haven’t realized what caused it since the interior material is soft. Other good thing is that is light and easy to put away. Only need to be careful to not loose the elastic bands in each strap.

Comment on Joe Torreano's answer:

does its job

Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

if you have a truck and dont want to spend the big bucks to get the expensive bike racks, then this is for you. just throw it over your truck bed, throw your bikes on. and you are ready to head up to the trails!

Have an answer for Mike?

Yes, you might want to strap them down though. The front wheel is mostly what keeps the bikes in place. The Dakine Pick Up pad item # DAK3434 may work better for you. It has velcro straps to hold the bikes in place.

Comment on Shae's answer:

Best way to transport bikes

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

I have a new Toyota Tacoma and bought the small. This is definitely the best way to shuttle mtn bikes around if you have a truck. Pad is durable, keeps bikes from scratching car and bikes don't move at all when driving. Just throw the bikes over the tailgate and be on your way.

Comment on kennythree's review:

Built for late model trucks.

Familiarity: I returned this product before using it

I ordered this pad intending to use it on my first generation Toyota Tundra. As other users have mentioned, it's made for the newer trucks that flair at the top of the tailgate. I certainly could have made this work on my truck, but, it wasn't quite right. Additionally, I like to be able to throw my topper on my truck while leaving my pad on. Because of the extra material in the top of the pad, the glass on the shell would not have closed.

Pretty cool setup for one of the newer pick ups without a topper. Not ideal for the 'ol ones.

Comment on Grant Helgeson's review:

A Must Have for Shuttling

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

I bought the Large for my Titan and it fits great. Like chad mentioned below, the Dakine pads seem to fit a little better without gaps between the tailgate and the pad, but this will get the job done and will make life easier when you've got a lot of bikes to pile in and shuttle. The added loops to secure the bikes are a bonus, my original pad didn't have anything like that so they would flop around a bit in bumpy terrain or on corners, so that will help keep your bikes in one spot while you're traveling.

Comment on Mike Lee's review:

Easy Transportation

This tailgate pad makes fitting a bunch of bikes into the bed of your truck easy. I have a 2004 Toyota Tacoma and purchased the small. My only complaint is that the top of the pad has a large flat section that appears to be made for trucks with a plastic cap on the tailgate. The Dakine pad does fit a little nicer on tailgates without this. Not a deal breaker just something to think about before you purchase a pad.

Comment on Chad Cordell's review:

Average ride time is based on Strava activity over the last 3 months. Give your reviews credibility by connecting your account.

I Cannot Believe I Went Without This

Familiarity: I've used it several times

I just purchased this tailgate pad (Large for my F350) and have had a chance to use it a few times so far. It was very easy to install, provides excellent protection for your bike, bikes stay in place very well, it has bomber construction/material, and opening and lowering the tailgate is no problem. I highly recommend it.

Comment on Greg Adams's review:

Quick and Easy...

Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

The Thule Gate Mate makes transporting bikes super quick and easy...saves extra time by not having to hassle with fitting bikes on racks. Also, reduces wear and tear on the bike and leaves no scratches on tail gate!

Comment on kennythree's answer:

No-brainer

The Thule pad makes transporting 5 mtb's in a pick-up truck super easy. The bonus is bikes don't get dinged or scratched, unlike putting them on my trailer mounted hitch where they getting trashed from grinding against each other.